Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Let My Home Be My Garrison

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On November 5, 2015

In Gaming, World of Warcraft

pax_east_garrison_580Will there be no love lost between players and their garrisons when Legion comes out, or will folks, like me, lament leaving their garrison back on Draenor? Actually, I take that back, I will not be leaving my garrison in the dust, to be forgotten like Sunsong Ranch. The garrison is a gold farm. If all you do is send your out followers just to sell whatever they bring back, and harvest your ore and herbs, only to vendor it, those small amounts will add up quickly.

I kind of wonder if Blizzard expects people to do this since they gave us a separate hearthstone specifically for our garrison. I really don’t think the garrison was a bad idea, I rather enjoyed my private little area carved out of the world. It was the closest thing we had to player housing. Unless BlizzCon proves to me that Class Halls will be a much more interesting experience than my garrison, I can’t see myself spending a lot of time there.

murlocI don’t play on an RPG server nor do I really RPG anymore but I can see how the garrison would even appeal to someone that does take the extra initiative to RPG with their characters. Why go back to a main city or a “class hall” at the end of an adventure when you can return to a garrison with your trophies and monuments on display and an army of followers awaiting their next mission from their General?

I’m curious what the rest of you think. Will you keep returning to your garrison in Legion or do you think Class Halls will give you a new home to hearth to?

Should WoW Go Free-To-Play?

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On November 4, 2015

In Gaming, World of Warcraft

In my last MMO Times post there is a link to an article about Blizzard reporting the WoW subscriptions dropping to 5.5 million. The main point of the article isn’t about this drop in subscriptions but Blizzard’s announcement that it will be the last time they will disclose subscription numbers. This seems to have started a whirlwind of conspiracy theories. One theory in particular is that WoW is going Free-2-Play:

https://twitter.com/AdamHolisky/status/661616673393250304

If you recognize Adam Holisky, he’s one of the bloggers for Blizzard Watch (formally WoW Insider) but that doesn’t mean he has some inside knowledge. I think he’s just making an educated guess as to why Blizzard decided to stop reporting subscription numbers. There isn’t, to my knowledge, any evidence that gives this hypothesis any credence but if it were to happen he will have the right to say “First!”.

I’m doubtful that Blizzard will actually make WoW Free-2-Play. I’ll be honest, as much as I think it would be nice not to have to continue paying that subscription fee, I’m more of the opinion that WoW should continue with the subscription model. I’ve played games that started as a subscription and switched to a F2P model and you wouldn’t believe the trolls and troglodytes that swarm the servers. If you think the trolls (that pay to be there) are bad in Trade Chat in WoW, imagine what it will be like when they don’t have to pay money to make your life hell.

If Blizzard did make WoW Free-2-Play I can’t imagine it would be the only model; I can seem them going with a F2P model and a paid subscription model (much like other titles are using). I would almost want strict public channel and auction house rules such as a “Trade Channel” a F2P account cannot enter or an auction house that is separate from those with a subscription, because we already have people that make it a goal to ruin the economic value of the auction house by intentionally undercutting the lowest buy-out.

Blizzard has adamantly said they will not go Free-2-Play, but Bioware said the same thing and less than a year later changed their minds. Granted WoW has had a 10 year run, more than any other MMO game out there and leaking subscriptions is just part of the life cycle of any game. It could be that instead of trying to compare WoW to their other games, they are just going to report the overall health of Blizzard and Blizzard titles as a whole.

It’s an interesting theory and definitely a “watercooler topic” but I’m not going to hold my breath.

/For The Alliance!

Rey May Be the Most Powerful Jedi Yet

The MMO Times: The Force is Strong in My Family

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On November 3, 2015

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

force-strong-in-familyIssue 136: Ghoulish Greetings Gamers! What nerdy costume did you wear this year (or your children, mine was Supergirl)? I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween. Remember that on the 27th Blizzard started the beta for Overwatch so during your sugar-induced insomnia, perhaps you were lucky enough to receive an invite to it. By the way, if you did receive an invite and you are allowed to talk about the beta, please feel free to write a post on my blog; come see me if you are interested. The 27th also marks the official launch of the next SWTOR expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire. Blizzard and Disney are going to be most responsible for an amazing fall and winter; although 2015 is predominately the year of Star Wars.

BlizzCon starts on Friday, so I’m pretty stoked for that. I actually used a vacation day on Friday so I could watch opening ceremonies and several of the panels. I imagine that is why Blizzard has been tight-lipped yet again about any additional news other than the start of the Overwatch beta (have you gotten your invite yet?).

So what do we have for you this week. How about some Aion news (which is also unusual news for any MMO), a SWTOR article sure to make you want to play it again, even some Tomb Raider and Warcraft movie trailers. The build up to BlizzCon has the news a little slow which is the reason for the gaps between posts. I have my virtual ticket and I am quite excited for BlizzCon this weekend. Perhaps there will be more to discuss next week after Blizzard’s big weekend. KCGO.

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Theories From A Fanboy

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On October 21, 2015

In Geek Canon, Star Wars

It’s to be expected that a new trailer will produce more questions and even more theories. Some of them are fairly conceivable, others are wild, baseless speculation. I’m going to explain my theory as to the plot (and subplots) of the next movie based on evidence shown in the newest trailer. (If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, then you’re a nub and you should go watch it now – I’ll wait.) All right, now let’s proceed.

The Plot

master-luke

A very Obi-Wan-esque image of Luke

The Empire is shattered. The Sith and Jedi have vanished and are now mere legends. Granted its only 30 years after the second Death Star was destroyed, but since there were technically only three Force users (Vader, Palpatine and Luke), its conceivable that most people weren’t even aware that Luke was Jedi and Vader and Palpatine were Sith. Be that as it may, Kylo Ren and his followers (the Knights of Ren) set out to rebuild the Empire that, Kylo Ren believes, Vader wanted. Ren is obsessed with Vader, we don’t really know why. The First Order, in juxtaposition with Ren’s efforts, is the new Imperial army led by General Hux.

Finn is a stormtrooper (remember, after the clone wars stormtroopers were no longer clones but volunteers) who, perhaps, begins to question the motives behind the First Order and decides he has had enough. He is shot down escaping and crashes on the same planet as Rey. This planet also has the crashed Star Destroyer we’ve seen in images and trailers. It’s also where, I believe, we see Rey spelunking in the opening of the newest trailer. Perhaps she find something there. A device or some data that the First Order needs to continue to rise to power.

This is also where the lives of Rey and Finn become entwined. Perhaps they are both experiencing strange, latent abilities. The Force. They have only heard stories of Jedi and the Force. Perhaps they are the first of, what will be, a new Jedi Order. If that’s the case then Kylo Ren would want to prevent and/or destroy them. He talks of finding the last Jedi. Luke? Luke is likely in hiding, thus perpetuating the legend. Perhaps Luke will emerge from hiding to train Rey and Finn and rebuild the Jedi. He could become the new Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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The MMO Times: The Force. It’s Calling To You.

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On October 20, 2015

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

tfa_poster_wide_headerIssue 135: Greetings Jedi, err Gamers! Star Wars Episode VII will also soon be here! I can hardly contain myself. Halloween approaches quickly, too, which means the daystar will soon give way to frigid temperatures (depending on your location). However that also means BlizzCon fast approaches as well as the Overwatch public beta. Are you asking “What Overwatch public beta?” then you might want to read on (although it has been all over social media). On a somber note, if you have ever watched any videos by TotalBiscuit, he is in need of your thoughts and prayers, now more than ever (more on that below).

So you already know there is something about an Overwatch beta, but there are some new things coming for WoW (more pre-Legion patches) as well as a new pet apparently added over a month ago but only recently discovered, details on a new FFXIV patch, exciting news for SWTOR players (beyond the new trailer) and more! KCGO.

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Official Full Trailer

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On October 20, 2015

In Geek Canon, Star Wars

I’m going to put this here because I would be remiss if I didn’t. Besides, I don’t want to keep going to YouTube and searching for it, I just want to go straight to it when I want to watch it for the Nth time!

minion_keboard_smI could get so much more accomplished if I only had minions!

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